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Phillies fine with decision to carry 10 pitchers

Phillies fine with decision to carry 10 pitchers

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PHILADELPHIA -- It sounds like the Phillies had little debate about their National League Division Series roster.

They chose 10 pitchers over 11 pitchers, but the decision seemed obvious once they learned Wednesday's weather forecast cleared up. Had rain been scheduled for Game 1, the Phils might have carried 11 pitchers because they would have needed to pitch Roy Halladay on short rest or pitch Joe Blanton on normal rest in Game 4 on Monday.

"We had some discussion about it," Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We just felt ultimately with some of the time off in the series -- longer than most normal five-game series -- we felt we were covered pitching-wise to go with 10. I hope it's not a mistake."

The decision bumped right-hander Kyle Kendrick from the roster and allowed the Phillies to carry both infielder Greg Dobbs and outfielder Domonic Brown on the bench. Should the Phillies advance to the NL Championship Series, they could carry 11 pitchers.

Amaro said they liked Dobbs over somebody like outfielder John Mayberry Jr., who was sent to the Arizona Fall League, because they wanted another left-handed hitter. Dobbs also proved valuable because they only would have had one player -- Wilson Valdez -- who could play on the left side of the infield.

Dobbs can play third, which immediately proved its worth with third baseman Placido Polanco not starting Game 1 because of a bad back. Valdez started at third base and hit eighth.

"[The roster] may change," Amaro said. "Hopefully we get to think about it in the next series, if we get there. But right now, we're just doing the best thing for us given the schedule."